Automobile-signal.



J. J. ULCIEI.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I3. 1916 JAMES J. ULCH, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that 1, JAMES J. Then, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polkand State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Automobile-Signal, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an electrically operated signal for automobiles, of durable, simple and inexpensive construction.

A further object is to provide such a signal including a flat arm and mechanism for operating the arm whereby the arm is raised and lowered, and is rotated a quarter turn during the raising and lowering movement.

A still further object is to provide means for operating such an arm including a locking device for securing the arm in its raised position and to provide an electrically operating mechanism for releasing said locking means when it is desired to lower the arm.

A still further object is to provide means for locking the arm in its lowered position to revent it from swinging.

still further object is to provide a light on said arm and means for connecting the li ht in circuit when the arm is raised.

y invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of a motor vehicle equipped with signal arms and operative =mechanism therefor, embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation of one of the arms and part of the operating mechanism therefor, the arm being shown in raised position.

Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of said mechanism.

Fig. 4 shows a detail view of the means for locking the arm in its lowered position.

Fig. 5 shows a top or plan view of part of the operative mechanism.

Fig. 6 shows a detail sectional view'taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 shows a diagrammatic view 1llustratin the wiring of my device.

In t e accompanying drawings,

rence numeral 10 to indicate generally Specification of Letters Patent.

' improved si muse-atin a form of my invention, I have used the refs Patented Jan. it, 1918.

Application filed July 13, 1916. Serial No. 109,016.

the body of a motor vehicle on which my al is mounted. I preferably mount one o the signals on each side of the machine on the outside of the body near the front end thereof. The signal device in each case consists of a bracket 11 having an outwardly extending arm 12 and spaced parallel outwardly extending arm 13. The outer end of the arm 13 is provided with an enlarged portion 14 on the inner surface of which, adjacent to the arm 12 are teeth 15 arranged substantially in a quarter circle. Mounted between the arms 12 and 13 is a cylinder or block 17 having spindles 16 formed thereon which are rotatably mounted in and project beyond said arms.

I provide a flat signal arm 18 having at its inner end a short shaft 19 rotatably mounted in the cylinder 17. On the arm 18 is a beveled gear 20 in mesh with the teeth 15. The parts just described are so arranged that when the arm 18 is in its raised horizontal position shown. in Fig. 2, the fiat faces of the arm 18 will show to the rear and to the front respectively.

When the arm is swung to its forward position, it is rotated a quarter turn and when lowered, stands in the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 with one of its fiat faces adjacent to the side of the motor car body 10. Mounted on each side of the body 10, preferably just below the arm 13 is a magnet 21 having a movable armature 22.

On one of the spindles 16 is an arm 23, pivoted to the arm 23 and to the armature 22 is a pitman 24. It will be seen that ordinarily the arm 18 will drop by gravity to its lowered position and the armature 22 will be raised. When however the ma et 21 is energized the armature 22 will e drawn downwardly and the arm 18 will be raised.

For holding the arm 18 in its raised position, I have secured to one of the spindles 16 an eccentric plate 25 having in one end a notch 26. Pivotally mounted preferably on an extension 27, on the bracket 11, is a bell crank lever 28 having formed on one end a pawl 29 adapted to enter the notch 26 when said notch is upward. Suitably mounted below the arm 12 is a magnet 30 having an armature 31. Pivoted to the armature 31 and to the lower arm of the bell crank 28 is a pitman 32. The parts are so arranged, and the arm of the bell crank lever having the pawl is of such weight that normally the pawl stands in engaging position.

lever 34 in It will be noted that the edges of this plate 25 are curved or beveled on the opposite side of the notch 26 so that the pawl 29 willtravel' along said edges free until the notch 26 reaches position below the pawl 29 in the .upward movement of said notch.

cJPivoted to a suitable bracket 33 below eachmagnet 21 is a bell crank lever 34 normally arranged to stand substantially 1n the position shown in Fig. 4 with its upper arm resting on the upper end of a spring 35 and held in such position by the lower portions of said spring. It will be noted that the spring 35 is supported by a part of the bracket 33 1n such position that the upper end of the spring will serve as a positive stop for the upper arm of the lever 44, and the lower end of the spring will yieldingly engage the lower ends of the lever to hold the upper end thereof against said stop. On the upper arm of the bell crank lever 34 is an armature 36. Formed in the lower end of the bell crank lever 34 is a notch 37 that receives the arm 18 when the latter is in its lower position. An edge of the bell crank lever 34 on one side of the notch 37 is beveled as shown in Fig. 6, so that when the arm 18 swings downwardly to its lower position, it will engage said beveled edge and travel thereon until it reaches the notch 37.

The spring 35 will then hold the bell crank arm 18 received in the notch 37. In the outer end of each arm 18 is formed an opening 39 in which is mounted an electric llght globe 40.

Mounted on the frame 10 next the bracket 11 is a contact point 41. Supported on the '45 are connected with the opposite poles of the battery b return wire 46 and a wire 47. A button switch 48 is adapted to closethe circuit through the wires 46 and 47 A wire 49 is electrically connected with the wire 44 and on opposite sides thereof with the respective magnets 21 ofthe signal device on the opposite side of the machine.

One of the magnets 21 is'connected by a wire 50, and switch 51 and a wire 52 with position with the edge of the,

aaeaeao the wire 47. The other of said magnet 21 is by the means of a wire 56 and'a wire 58.

The first magnet 30 just mentioned, is connected with the wire 44. Theother magnet 30 is connected by a wire 59 with the wire 47. ()ne contact point of each lamp 40 is connected with the wire 60. The other con tact point of each lamp 40 is connected with the contact member 42 by "means of a wire 61. The contact members 41 are connected with the wire 63. The wire 63 is connected with the wire 46 and the wire 60 is connected with the wire 44. A. horn 64 has a magnet 65 connected with 'the wire 66 and the wire 67, which is con- The operation of the arm in its movement to signaling position is as follows: 7

Assume for an instance that it is desired to raise the right hand arm 18 to indicate to any person approaching from the front, or following the vehicle on which my attachment is mounted, the direction in which said vehicle is about to turn, the operator closes the switch 54 whereby a circuit is established through the wire 47, the wire 55, the switch 54, the wire 53, the right hand magnet or solenoid 21, the wire 49 and the portion of the wire 44. No; other circuits will be closed. a

When the magnet 21, last mentionedfis energized, it will immediately draw the armature 36 upwardly thereby moving the lower arm of the bell crank lever 34 and the notch 37 away from the arm 18. The armature 22 will be drawn into the magnet, thereby rotatlng the shaft 16 and the block 17 thereby causlng the arm 18 to swing to its upper horizontal position. During said u ward movement of the arm 18, it will be 0 vious that on account of the intermeshing of the teeth of the gear 20 with the teeth 15, the

arm 18 will be rotated a quarter turn, thereby mov ng it from its position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, to its position shown by full lines in said figure.

If the signal is used at night and the switch 48 is closed for lightin the lamps 45 it will be seen that when eit er arm 18 is raised a circuit will also be established throu h the wire 47 the switch 48, the wire 46, t e lamps 45, and the wire 44. A circuit will also be established from the wire 46 through Assume that the the wire 63, the contact member 41 or 42, the wire 61 the, lamp 40, the wire and the wire 44.

It will also be noted that when the switch 54 is closed, an alarm device will be sounded by means of a circuit including wire 47, wire 55, the switch 54, the wire 66, the magnet 65, the wire 67 and a portion of the wire 44. It will be unnecessary to describe the circuits closed when the left hand signal arm is operated.

When the arm 18 is swung to its raised position the pawl 29 drops into the notch 26, whereby the arm 18 is held in its raised position until the operator acts and this is true even though the switch 54 should be opened. When the operator desires to lower the raised arm 18, he opens the switch 54 if closed and closes the switch 57 whereupon a circuit is established through a portion of wire 47, the wire 59, the magnet 30, the wire 58, the switch 57, the wire 56, the other magnet 30 and a portion of the wire 44. The energizing of the right hand magnet 30 causes its armature 31 to be drawn inwardly thereby raising the pawl 29 out of the notch 26. The arm 18 will then drop by gravity to its lower position rotating a quarter turn during said dropping movement and continuing said movement until one edge of the arm 18 enters the notch 37.

Many of the advantages of my improved signal device may be seen from the foregoing description of the attachments. It is of comparatively simple and inexpensive structure. The arm 18 stands in position when up, where it can be best seen, and when lowered stands with one of its fiat faces adjacent to the car side and projects a minimum distance away from the car. On account of this feature, the arm 18 may be made as wide as desired. The arm 18 is automatically locked in its upper position when it is once raised so that it does not require further attention from the operator and does not require a further use of electrical energy until the operator is ready to lower the'arm. When in its lower position the arm is held by spring pressure against any swinging movement.

Another advantage of my invention lies in the construction and arrangement thereof, whereby the alarm device is operatively connected with the actuating mechanism and the signal arms, so that when the button is pressed to actuate either signal arm the alarm is sounded as the arm is elevated.

Still another advantage lies in the manner in which the automobile lights are connected with the lights on the arms so that when the automobile lights are in circuit and the arms are actuated, the lights on the arms are automatically thrown in circuit when the arms are raised.

My invention may be embodied in a variety of forms, and numerous changes may be made in the construction and arran ement of the parts of my device without eparting from its essential features and purposes, and it is my intention to cover by this application any such modified forms of structure and any use of the mechanical equivalent which may be reasonably included within the scope of my claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a signal device having an indicating arm adapted to be moved to operative osition and to drop by gravity to inoperatlve position, a frame, a bracket mounted thereon, a block pivoted in said bracket, a signal arm having one end pivotally mounted in said block, a magnet mounted on the frame adjacent to the bracket, a lever comprising portions extending at an angle relative to each other and pivotally supported on the frame at the apex of the angle formed by the extending portions, one of said extending portions being adapted to form an armature for said magnet and the other extending portion being adapted to coact with the signal arm to hold the latter in operative position, a second magnet mounted on the frame, an armature therefor, means for operativel connecting the last described armature wit the signal arm for moving the latter from inoperative to operative position, a second lever comprising two portions extending at an angle to each other and pivoted at the apex of the angle formed by the extending portions to the frame, one of said extending portions being adapted to form an armature or the second end of the last described magnet and the other extending portion being adapted to coact with the si al arm to hold the latter in inoperative position, and means for rotating the signal arm a quarter of a turn during its movement from either of its positions to the other osition.

Des Moines, Iowa, J illy 10, 1916.

JAMES J. ULCH. 

